Black hole found in health budget, says Wrekin MP

Wrekin MP, Mark Pritchard, is to hold an urgent meeting with Ian Cummins, the Chief Executive of the West Midlands Health Authority next week, to ask the Authority to “repay” up to £7 million the MP believes was taken “by stealth” from local Primary Care Trust healthcare budgets over the last five years.

The MP who is leading a campaign to stop accident and emergency services being downgraded at the Princess Royal Hospital in Telford and who has attracted over 12,000 signatures for his Parliamentary Petition, believes if the money is paid back to the County local hospital services could be given a life-line.

Mr Pritchard said:

“I have discovered a big black hole in the County’s health budget – and all roads lead back to the Treasury and the Regional Health Authority. I will be telling West Midlands Health Authority bosses to give the money back. These are much needed local funds that will make the difference in keeping acute and emergency services in Telford”.

The MP said he would be raising the matter with Health Secretary, Andy Burnham MP, in the House of Commons, adding: “If these funds are returned it might just might be enough to halt the cuts”.